The effect of Dolutegravir on redox and vascular integrity

Date
2022-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Of the estimated 7.2 million people living with HIV (PLWH) in South Africa, more than 50% are on antiretroviral (ARV) medication. Dolutegravir (DTG), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), is increasingly used in South Africa (and Africa) as one of the first line treatments for HIV. Both in vitro and clinical studies indicate that DTG-based therapies have been associated with adverse effects (such as abnormal weight gain, hyperglycemia, and neurological dysfunction) alongside increased oxidative stress. Another disease state common in the South African context is obesity. DTG is administered to an individual regardless of their weight. As obesity is also associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, this might be a potential confounding factor in the efficacy and safety of DTG treatment. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the most common risk factors associated with non-communicable disease (such as obesity and CVD) and would therefore be an important phenomenon to investigate in the context of ARVs and obesity. Aim: This study aimed to elucidate potential effects of chronic DTG on redox profile and endothelial integrity in the presence or absence of overfeeding as a confounder. Methods: Adult zebrafish were subjected to chronic administration of DTG in the absence and presence of obesity (overfeeding model) over a period of 2 weeks. The lean zebrafish received Hikari dry pellets twice per day, whereas the overfed fish received the same food, six times per day over 4 weeks. A parallel 12-week DTG administration study was also executed in lean male and female Wistar rats. Body mass, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) and vascular endothelial tight junctions (claudin-5 and ZO-1) and adherens junction (VE-Cadherin) protein profile were evaluated. Results: DTG did not have a significant effect on the body mass of adult zebrafish or rats. DTG administration showed no detrimental effect on ROS levels in either zebrafish or rats. When considering the effect of DTG on the expression of tight and adherens junction proteins, DTG showed no effect on the expression of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in both zebrafish and rats. In terms of obesity, the overfed zebrafish had significantly higher body mass when compared to lean fish confirming successful execution of the overfeeding protocol. Overfeeding did not impact ROS, however there was a decrease in VE-cadherin expression in the zebrafish dorsal aorta, pointing to a cumulative effect of DTG and obesity (overfeeding). Conclusion: This study suggests that in the absence of HIV, DTG does not have an effect on redox status and endothelial dysfunction in terms of tight and adherens junction integrity. However, the addition of overfeeding highlighted the cumulative effect of DTG and obesity on endothelial function, an effect that can potentially impact the human population.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Van die geraamde 7,2 miljoen mense wat met Menslike Immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) in Suid-Afrika leef, gebruik meer as 50% antiretrovirale (ARV) medikasie. Dolutegravir (DTG) word toenemend in Suid-Afrika (en Afrika) gebruik as een van die eerste-lyn-behandelings vir MIV. Beide in vitro en kliniese studies dui daarop dat DTG-gebaseerde terapieë geässosieer word met nadelige kliniese effekte (soos gewigstoename, hiperglukemie en neurologiese disfunksie) en verhoogde oksidatiewe stres. Nog 'n siektetoestand wat algemeen voorkom in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, is vetsug. DTG word aan 'n individu toegedien ongeag hul gewig. Aangesien vetsug ook geässosieer word met oksidatiewe stres en inflammasie, kan dit 'n potensiële verwarrende faktor wees in die doeltreffendheid en veiligheid van DTG-behandeling. Endoteeldisfunksie is een van die mees algemene risikofaktore wat geassosieer word met nie-oordraagbare siektes (soos vetsug en kardiovaskulêre siekte) en sal dus 'n belangrike faktor wees om in die konteks van ARVs en vetsug te ondersoek. Doel: Hierdie studie het uitgesit om die potensiële effekte van chroniese DTG op redoksprofiel en endoteelintegriteit in die teenwoordigheid of afwesigheid van oorvoeding as 'n versteurder toe uit te lig. Metodes: Volwasse zebravisse is oor 'n tydperk van 2 weke aan chroniese toediening van DTG in die afwesigheid en teenwoordigheid van vetsug (oorvoedingsmodel) onderwerp. Die maer (kontrole) zebravisse het Hikari-vis-korrels twee keer per dag ontvang, terwyl die oorgevoerde visse ses keer per dag dieselfde kos ontvang het, vir n periode van 4 weke. 'n Parallelle 12-week DTG administrasie studie is ook uitgevoer in maer manlike en vroulike Wistar rotte. Liggaamsmassa, reaktiewe suurstof spesies (ROS) vlakke (waterstofperoksied (H2O2) en vaskulêre endoteel stywe aansluitings (claudin-5 en ZO-1) en adherens aansluiting (VE-Cadherin) proteïenprofiel is geëvalueer. Resultate: DTG het nie 'n betekenisvolle effek op die liggaamsmassa van volwasse zebravisse of rotte gehad nie. DTG-toediening het geen nadelige effek op ROS-vlakke in óf zebravisse óf rotte getoon nie. Wanneer die effek van DTG op die uitdrukking van stywe en adherens-verbindingsproteïene oorweeg is, het DTG geen effek op die uitdrukking van ZO-1 en claudin-5 in beide zebravisse en rotte getoon nie. Wat vetsug betref, het die oorvoede zebravis aansienlik hoër liggaamsmassa getoon in vergelyking met maer vis wat die suksesvolle uitvoering van die oorvoedingsprotokol bevestig. Oorvoeding het nie ROS beïnvloed nie, maar daar was 'n afname in VE-cadherin uitdrukking in die zebravis dorsale aorta, wat dui op 'n kumulatiewe effek van DTG en vetsug (oorvoeding). Gevolgtrekking: Hierdie studie dui daarop dat in die afwesigheid van MIV, DTG nie 'n effek op redoksstatus en endoteeldisfunksie het in terme van stywe en adherens aansluiting integriteit nie. Die byvoeging van oorvoeding het egter die kumulatiewe effek van DTG en vetsug op endoteelfunksie uitgelig, 'n effek wat potensiêel die menslike bevolking kan beïnvloed.
Description
Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2022.
Keywords
Tight junction proteins, HIV (Viruses) -- Treatment, Integrase strand transfer inhibitor, Oxygen radicals, UCTD
Citation